I am looking for a new aluminum stock trailer, have an Elite stock trailer now and have had lots of problems with cracking on the back corners as well as a few other spots. I have heard the Wilson or Merritt are really durable. I haul horses in it more than cattle and don't know how the punch sides will be.
A few of the issues I have with punch sides:
-no place to tie horses (where do I put tie loops inside and out?)
-where do I run a rope through to load an animal in the field?
-will a horse stick its nose out the hole?
-not as easy to close up in the winter
-not sure I like the ridges in the floor
-are they made to be safe for horses? cattle handle sharp corners better.
-I really like a moveable front gate to use the front compartment for tack or hauling c/c pairs

I looked at a slat side Eby, looks like lots of corners to cut a horse on inside the trailer.